IT WASN'T the world's biggest headline in February 1990. Within hours Nelson Mandela would be a free man.

It wasn't even the most startling sports story. James "Buster" Douglas stole the thunder by knocking out Mike Tyson in Tokyo.

But Tottenham have never forgotten the day they last left Chelsea with a win.

Although 17 dispiriting trips to the Bridge have followed, they'll pitch up today with hopes of ending that run in the FA Cup quarter-final fuelled by the midweek UEFA Cup win in Braga.

If Martin Jol's team play as incisively as they did in building a 2-0 lead in Portugal, they have a chance. If they're as wasteful in front of goal and as haphazard as they were in letting the home side back into it, they'll be destroyed.

Spurs will need to be at their very best, with Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov replicating their midweek razor-sharp form to take advantage of John Terry's likely absence at the back.

Tottenham have been scoring freely, especially on Sundays, and for the first time in ages take a genuine threat to Chelsea.

If Jose Mourinho's men are as half-cocked as they were against Porto, they will go out.

Michael Ballack might have scored the winner and may well go on to clinch the Champions League, but he remains an underperforming luxury in domestic football with a detrimental effect on players around him like Frank Lampard.

But with the Spurs defence so untrustworthy and lacking Ledley King, Didier Drogba will still be the difference and Chelsea can get revenge for the fiery Guy Fawkes Day defeat at White Hart Lane.

If Terry gets back to full fitness and Essien is returned to midfeld, the Blues should also go on to win the Champions League.

Valencia have the dangerous David Villa and secondleg home advantage. But if UEFA do their job, the Spaniards will have vital players suspended after their brawl with Inter Milan. Fortress Anfield will surely see off PSV, who were lucky to beat Arsenal, and in a mighty semi final, Chelsea will be hellbent on revenge against Liverpool.

The Blues' extra cutting edge should settle it - but what a great draw!

Get your money on an epic European final between the continent's top two clubs, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Too much has been made of Henrik Larsson's return to Sweden and Old Trafford's injuries last week.

United will have enough strength, potential match-winners and too much experience for Roma and, although Bayern are fast improving, United can book a place in Athens in May. Cristiano Ronaldo holds the key.

But surely the script is written for Athens. Chelsea, so hungry for it, win dramatically and then Mourinho storms off as he did at Porto.

Real Madrid's Champions League exit is significant. Galactico-watchers are convinced Mourinho will be at the Bernabeu this summer - and they're rarely wrong.

It'll be as sad for the English game as seeing Stuart Pearce fail at Manchester City. So many neutrals wanted this most passionate of England warriors to succeed, but the poisoned chalice of the City job is claiming another victim.

His big signings have flopped. Massive improvement is needed to even keep City up.

In today's FA Cup clash Blackburn, unbeaten in five, should land their third win of the season over their neighbours and book a second semifinal spot in three seasons.

The romantic in us all would love Plymouth to complete the last four lineup with the remarkable Ian Holloway at the helm.

Watford's Aidy Boothroyd deserves something, though, for his commendable conduct throughout the season and his team should take it after a replay, but the run will end there.